1. Indiana
Record: 27-6(14-4 Big Ten)Coach: Tom Crean (272-177, 14 seasons; 82-81, five at Indiana)Tournament record: 62-31Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 8Key players: Cody Zeller (16.8 ppg); G Jordan Hulls (48.7 3FG pct.)Best win: 72-71 at MichiganWorst loss: NoneScouting the Hoosiers: G Victor Oladipo has 74 steals, tying Isiah Thomas for the Indiana single-season record. Zeller has 10 double-doubles on the season. The Hoosiers have had three or more players score in double figures in 31 of their 33 games. Indiana is 6-2 against the top 25 and 7-2 against the RPI top 25 this season.2. MiamiRecord: 27-6 (15-3 in the ACC)Coach: Jim Larranaga (497-340 in 28 seasons; 47-18 in three at Miami)Tournament record: 4-6.Last tournament appearance: 2008Bid: Automatic RPI: 4Key players: G Shane Larkin(13.7 ppg, 4.4 assists per game); F Kenny Kadji (13.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg)Best win: 90-63 vs. DukeWorst loss: 80-65 at Wake ForestScouting the Hurricanes: The Hurricanes start with defense. If Shane Larkin or Durand Scott don't steal it, Julian Gamble and Kenny Kadji block your shot. Much has been made of Miami's age and physical maturity, but this isn't a team for whom the NCAA tournament's old hat. For such teams, it's usually the point guard, Larkin, that must be the calming influence on what looks like a possible Final Four team.3. MarquetteRecord: 23-8(14-4 in the Big East)Coach: Buzz Williams (133-70 in six seasons, 119-53 in five at Marquette)Tournament record: 5-4Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-Large. RPI: 12Key players: G Vander Blue (14.3 ppg.), G Junior Cadougan (4.1apg.)Best win: 49-48 vs. GeorgetownWorst loss: 49-47 at Wisconsin-Green BayScouting the Eagles: Marquette is a grind-it-out team - they do most of their scoring in the lane and they limit opposing teams to one shot per possession. They are poor along the three-point line (30 percent as a team), but they have one of the country's top sixth men in Davante Gardner (11.5 ppg.off the bench). Do NOT foul Gardner - he's making 84 percent of his free throws.4. SyracuseRecord: 26-9 (11-7 in Big East)Coach: Jim Boeheim (915-313 in 37 seasons at Syracuse)Tournament record: 48-28 in 29 seasonsLast tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large. RPI: 14Key players: SF James Southerland (41 percent from 3-point); PG Michael Carter-Williams (7.8apg)Best win: 70-68 at LouisvilleWorst loss: 83-79 vs. TempleScouting the Orangemen: This team's post-season rests on Southerland continuing to make his 3s. Syracuse struggles in the half-court offense, and Southerland consistently bailed them out in a Big East tournament victory over Pittsburgh.Carter-Williams gets assists in bunches, but he's capable of perplexing turnovers, too. Guard Brandon Triche is the senior who holds this team together.5. UNLVRecord: 25-9 (10-6 Mountain West)Coach: Dave Rice (51-18 in two seasons at UNLV)Tournament record: 33-18Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 22Key players: F Anthony Bennett (16.2 ppg, 8 rpg), G Anthony Marshall (10.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.5 apg)Best win: 64-55 vs. New MexicoWorst loss: 61-52 vs. Fresno StateScouting the Rebels: UNLV built its NCAA Tournament resume by playing defense. The Rebels led the Mountain West in holding all opponents to 39.6 percent on field goals and was the conference's best rebounding team. The Rebels also led all MWC teams with 7.5 steals a game.6. ButlerRecord: 25-8 (13-6 Atlantic 10)Coach: Brad Stevens (193-40, six seasons, all at Butler)Tournament record: 18-11Last tournament appearance: 2011Bid: At-large. RPI: 23Key players: G Rotnei Clark (16.7 ppg); C Andrew Smith (11.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg); F Roosevelt Jones (10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg,3.5 apg).Best win: 64-63 vs. GonzagaWorst loss: 62-47 at XavierScouting the Bulldogs: Butler, the 2011 NCAA darling (and champion, of course), had several quality wins this season, zapping Gonzaga, Indiana, UNC and Marquette. But the Bulldogs never could solve A-10 rival Saint Louis. They were swept in three meetings with the Billikens, including in the A-10 semifinals. Stevens, 36, remains among the best in the business and has turned down multiple overtures from seemingly splashier jobs to remain in his native Indianapolis.7. IllinoisRecord: 22-12 (8-10 Big Ten)Coach: John Groce (107-68 in five seasons, 22-12, first at Illinois)Tournament record: 39-30Last tournament appearance: 2011Bid: At-large RPI: 40Key players: G Brandon Paul (16.3 ppg); C Nnanna Egwu (4.5 rpg)Best win: 85-74 at GonzagaWorst loss: 68-54 vs. NorthwesternScouting the Illini: After firing Bruce Weber, the Illini won their most games since putting up 24 victories in 2008-09. They've held their opponent to fewer than 60 points in seven of their last nine wins. Illinois has won four games after coming back from double-digit deficits, rallying from 16 down at Hawaii, 11 down at Gonzaga, 12 down at Minnesota and from 14 down at home against Indiana.8. N.C. StateRecord: 24-10 (11-7 ACC)Coach: Mark Gottfried (325-176 in 16 seasons, 48-20 in two at N.C. State)Tournament record: 34-21Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-largeRPI: 33Key players: F Richard Howell (12.6 ppg), F C.J. Leslie (14.9 ppg), G Lorenzo Brown (12.1 ppg)Best win: 84-76 vs. DukeWorst loss: 86-84 at Wake ForestScouting the Wolfpack: N.C. State can score with anyone, with five players averaging double figures, and has the talent to beat any team in the field. Conversely, the Wolfpack could lose to any team in the field. The season-long problems have been putting together complete games, especially on the defensive end. The Pack's best chance to make a run, back to the Sweet 16 or beyond, is to get forward C.J. Leslie and point guard Lorenzo Brown going at the same time. One or the other struggles, so does State.9. TempleRecord: 23-9 (11-5 in the Atlantic 10)Coach: Fran Dunphy (467-237 in nine seasons, 157-74 in seven at Temple)Tournament record: 32-29.Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At large RPI: 42Key players: G Khaliff Wyatt (19.9 ppg, 1.65 steals per game); F Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (1.07 blocks, 1.77 steals per game)Best win: 83-79 vs. SyracuseWorst loss: 84-83 vs. DuquesneScouting the Owls: Atlantic 10Player of the Year Wyatt does a little bit of everything for Temple. He can shoot the three as evidenced by a national ranking in three-pointers made, but not one for three-pointers taken. They can be beaten from outside.10. ColoradoRecord: 21-11 (10-8, Pac-12)Coach: Tad Boyle (123-100 in seven seasons, 67-34 in three at Colorado)Tournament record: 10-13Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 38Key players: PF AndreRoberson (11.3 rpg); SG Spencer Dinwiddie (15.5 ppg)Best win: 76-53 vs. OregonWorst loss: 58-55 at UtahScouting the Bears: Andre Roberson is the Pac-12's defensive player of the year and the country's leading rebounder. He's also capable of guarding any position from shooting guard to center. The Buffs have Spencer Dinwiddie, a capable shooting guard to go with freshman Xavier Johnson, who is 6 foot 9 with range and a large wingspan. Colorado played one of the most difficult schedules in the country.11. BucknellRecord: 28-5 (12-2 in the Patriot League)Coach: Dave Paulsen (357-185 in 19 seasons, 98-64 in five at Bucknell)Tournament record: 2-5Last tournament appearance: 2011Bid: Automatic. RPI: 51Key players: C Mike Muscala (19ppg, 11.2 rpg), G Cameron Ayes (12.5 ppg)Best win: 74-66 vs. LaSalleWorst loss: 63-62 at LafayetteScouting the Bison: Muscala needs to dominate like he did in the Patriot League, where he was a two-time MVP. … Don't expect the Bison to be intimidated by a big-name foe: They beat Purdue on the road. This is a veteran team with four senior starters.12. CaliforniaRecord: 20-11 (12-6, Pac-12)Coach: Mike Montgomery(652-304 in 31 seasons; 108-57 in five at Cal)Tournament record: 19-17Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: At-large RPI: 53Key players: SG Allen Crabbe(18.6 ppg); PG Justin Cobbs (15.1 ppg)Best win: 77-69 at ArizonaWorst loss: 79-69, OT, vs. UtahScouting the Bears: Allen Crabbe is the Pac-12 Player of the Year, a versatile scorer capable of putting 30 points up. His backcourt mate Justin Cobbs is more a combo guard than pure point guard. David Kravish is a lanky and skilled post player for the Bears. Cal has a short bench, however, and will play Crabbe, Cobbs and Kravish almost the entire game.13. MontanaRecord: 23-6 (19-1 in Big Sky)Coach: Wayne Tinkle (139-77 in 7 seasons at Montana)Tournament record: 2-10.Last tournament appearance:2012Bid: Automatic RPI: 74Key players: F Matthias Ward(14.8 ppg); G Kareem Jamar (14.2 ppg, 4.1 assists per game)Best win: 76-74 vs. Weber StateWorst loss: 78-68 at San FranciscoScouting the Grizzlies: Ward has a bad foot injury. Efficient offensively, they shoot the three-pointer well and hit their free throws (fifth best percentage in the nation). Their turnover margin and rebounding margin both are near even, so against Big Dance competition, expect both to be problems.14. DavidsonRecord: 26-7(17-1 in Southern)Coach: Bob McKillop (452-278 in 24 seasons at Davidson)Tournament record: 8-12Last tournament appearance: 2012Bid: Automatic RPI: 61Key players: PF Jake Cohen (14.8 ppg); SF De'Mon Brooks (13.8 ppg)Best win: 63-60 vs. West VirginiaWorst loss: 70-57 at Georgia SouthernScouting the Wildcats: Davidson rides the nation's longest active winning streak at 17 games. The nation's best free-throw shooting team (80.1 percent), Davidson is also 37 percent from the 3-point line. The Wildcats go as Cohen and Brooks go, but they may have sixth man F Clint Mann back from injury in this week, which would help their frontcourt depth.15. PacificRecord:20-15 (13-5 in Big West)Coach: Bob Thomason (561-400in 32 seasons;434-324 in 25 at Pacific)Tournament record: 4-9.Last tournament appearance: 2006Bid: Automatic RPI: 99Key player: G Lorenzo McCloud (11.4 ppg),Best win: 76-66 vs. St. Mary'sWorst loss: 66-53 vs. UC-Santa BarbaraScouting the Tigers: Has the look of one and done, despite a seven-game win streak. Might get emotional boost that Thomason is retiring after 25 seasons.16. SouthernRecord: 23-9(15-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference)Coach: RomanBanks (40-26, 2 seasons at Southern)Tournament record: 1-7Last tournament appearance: 2006Bid: Automatic RPI: 180Key players:G Derick Beltran (15.9 ppg), G Malcolm Miller (15.8 ppg, 46 percent/3-pointers), C Brandon Moore (7.1 rpg)Best win:53-51 at Texas A&MWorst loss: 68-57 at TCUScouting the Jaguars: Southern, only one year removed from scandal and NCAA sanctions, will have to win a play-in game to be one of the actual 64. The Jaguars were 151nd nationally in scoring, 148th in rebounding and 261th out of the 345 Division I ranked teams in assists. Miller, a junior, is among the top five in the nation in 3-point shooting.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
